Intro -- Preface -- Acknowledgement -- Author biographies -- Melody Sandells -- Daniela Flocco -- Chapter 1 Observing the cryosphere -- 1.1 Components of the cryosphere -- 1.2 Importance of cryospheric knowledge -- 1.3 Techniques for observing changes -- 1.4 Deposition climate records -- 1.5 Climate tipping points and the high latitudes -- References -- Chapter 2 Basic physics -- 2.1 Thermodynamics of the cryosphere -- 2.2 Conservation equations -- 2.3 Radiative transfer theory -- 2.4 Properties of ice -- References -- Chapter 3 Permafrost and periglacial environments -- 3.1 Frost heave -- 3.2 Temperature of the permafrost -- 3.3 Periglacial landscape formation -- 3.4 Sorting of stones -- 3.5 Patterned ground on Mars -- 3.6 Thawing of permafrost -- References -- Chapter 4 Snow -- 4.1 Snow crystal formation -- 4.2 Snowpack formation -- 4.3 Metamorphism and densification -- 4.4 Mass and energy balance modelling -- References -- Chapter 5 Land ice -- 5.1 Definition and importance -- 5.2 Glaciers -- 5.2.1 Morphological aspects -- 5.2.2 Thermodynamic and dynamic aspects of a glacier -- 5.3 Where land and ocean meet: ice sheets and ice shelves -- 5.4 Icebergs -- 5.5 An overview of our ice sheets: Antarctica and Greenland -- 5.5.1 Antarctica -- 5.5.2 Greenland -- References -- Chapter 6 Sea ice -- 6.1 Sea ice properties -- 6.2 Ice formation -- 6.3 Sea ice classification -- 6.4 Sea ice modelling -- 6.5 The importance of albedo: melt ponds, leads and polynyas -- 6.5.1 Polynyas -- 6.5.2 Leads -- 6.5.3 Melt ponds -- References -- Chapter 7 High-latitude processes -- 7.1 Oceans -- 7.1.1 The importance of high-latitude processes -- 7.1.2 The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation within the global thermohaline circulation or great conveyor belt -- 7.1.3 Deep convection -- 7.1.4 The AMOC: slowdown or shutdown? -- 7.2 Ocean ventilation.

7.3 High-latitude meteorological indexes -- 7.3.1 The North Atlantic Oscillation -- 7.3.2 The Southern Annular Mode index -- 7.4 The poles and the changing climate -- 7.4.1 The Arctic -- 7.4.2 Arctic sea ice and climate -- 7.4.3 Antarctica and the Southern Ocean -- 7.4.4 Description of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current -- 7.4.5 Deepwater formation -- 7.4.6 The ozone hole -- 7.5 Polar lights: Aurora Borealis and Australis -- 7.6 Ecology and sea ice -- References -- Chapter 8 Thoughts for the future -- References.